Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie

7 reviews

babsbee's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I got pulled into this novel from the first page, and I stayed up late way too many nights telling myself I'd read just a few more pages. There were so many times reading the story of Akorfa and Selasi (and the various other people around them) that I wanted to scream my rage at the people who kept trying to silence them, to remind them that they should not bring dishonor or embarrassment to their families. A look into racism (for Akorfa in the US), into a corrupt government trying to silence Selasi when she stands up for another young woman (in Ghana), dealing with deaths and abandonment of family members, and the rape they both experience made me so angry for them. But yet, Akorfa and Selasi (especially Selasi) also gave me hope. They are strong women and they know their strength and will not be silenced. 

It's a challenging read but also a very fast one, and one that I highly recommend for everyone to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Abandonment, Abortion, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Racism, Grief, Misogyny, and Rape

readalongwithyasmin's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Child abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, and Classism

booksillremember's review

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

An interesting story, and I like the idea of showing it through two POVs. Complex family dynamics and intergenerational trauma were described in an insightful and mostly nuanced way. 

The novel is a commentary on #metoo, racism and classism in Ghana and to a lesser extend the US. Towards the end, it feels really quite preachy, as if the author doesn't trust her characters to convey the message or she doesn't trust her readers to understand it otherwise (there's a few pages where Akorfa mentally lists all the pros and cons of living in Ghana vs the US as a black person, almost like a school essay).

I feel the author relies too much on 'tell, don't show' instead of letting the character's actions speak for themselves. I also wish more time had been spent on the main characters coming to term with their pasts. 

That said, the writing style is very accessible and I enjoyed learning a bit about Ghana (and really want to try the food now), so I'd definitely recommend picking this up if you need a break from more challenging reads.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Rape, Abortion, Classism, and Racism

alisonannk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Body shaming, Classism, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Toxic friendship, Racism, Sexual harassment, Blood, Rape, Abortion, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Police brutality, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail

tiamia1084's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Classism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Racism, Bullying, Misogyny, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault

Such a good book! Picked it up randomly at work because the cover was pretty but this book was so good! At times very frustrating to see how the two main characters that such different lives and yet had gone through many of the same struggles. They were bound from speaking of their experiences because of tradition, family honor, class, societal pressures, pressure from corrupt government, racism. This was such a complex and multi-level story. It was so good so so good.

arsenelouppain's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was a finely-crafted narrative with vibrant characters that popped off of the page. They were all so full of life and emotion, even those with minor appearances.

It was intriguing to see the same set of events unfolding from two different perspectives. Peace Adzo Medie did an excellent job of creating realistic protagonists that were sympathetic despite their faults. Though I do wish there had been more distinction between their unique voices.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Classism, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

citybookspgh's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Not a bad way to spend time. Satisfying ending. Didn’t understand the need for dual narration. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Racism, Abortion, and Toxic friendship